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72
Five boys (28 days stay) lost weight, the amounts varying between .5 and 1.25 lbs.; all these
were in camp during the month of August. There was no shortage of food for any reason at that time,
and the most probable explanation is the very hot weather that existed at the time. As is to be expected,
the gain in weight is most rapid during the first three weeks, lessening in amount from then onwards as
the individual is restored to the normal. Viewing the progress made from the additional standpoints
of gain in colour, tone and so forth, the boys are divisible into four groups: (1) very much improvement,
21, or 6.9 per cent.; (2) much improvement, 99, or 32.7 per cent.; (3) some improvement, 167, or 55.1
per cent.; (4) no benefit, 16, or 5.3 per cent. Of this last group, seven had inter-current ailments which
would account for their lack of progress, viz.: 1 varicella, 1 tonsillitis, 1 otorrhœa and adenitis, 4 febricula.
The bill of health as a whole is a remarkably clean one; in addition to the above there occurred
four cases of impetigo—these arose in two pairs, suggesting the origin of the second case in each instance
—1 case of herpes, 3 cases of blepharitis, 1 case of alveolar abscess. As regards accidents, there were
two cases of abrasions becoming septic and two cases of dislocation at the elbow joint, both of which
did very well. Considering the amount of football and out-door games indulged in, the debilitated state
of the boys on arrival, and the facilities the surroundings afford for tree-climbing, the casualty list must be
regarded as a gratifyingly small one.
The results set out above leave no room for doubt as to the beneficial effects arising from a sojourn
in the camp, which, at any rate, to many boys whose horizon is bounded by a slum environment, must
create an oasis in the desert of their daily lives.
Open-air
classes.
The Education Committee on 9th April, 1919, authorised the holding, during the summer,
of open-air classes, not exceeding 100 in number, of the following types—
Type A.—A class held at a centre, composed of delicate children from neighbouring
schools, selected by the school medical officer, the class working in the open air all the summer.
Type B.—A class of delicate children specially selected from various classes in the same
school, the class working in the open air during the whole summer.
Type C.—An ordinary school class working in the open air the whole summer.
Type D.—Ordinary school classes working in the open air in turn for a half-day, a day,
a week, or a month at a time.
The total number of classes ultimately sanctioned was 87, divided among the various types
as follows four of type A, three of type B, 53 of type C and 27 of type D. Of these, 37 were held
in parks and open spaces and 50 in playgrounds or roof playgrounds. The services of an additional teacher
were allowed in 12 instances on the recommendation of the district inspector.
The special features of the classes which were held this year were —
(1) The scheme in accordance with which the whole department of the Kilburn-lane
L.C.C. school (Paddington, N.) was enabled to obtain instruction in the open air at Queen'spark.
(2) The utilisation of one of the privately owned squares of London, viz., Tredegar-square,
by permission of Lord Tredegar, for a class of pupils from the girls' department of the Southgrove
school (Mile End).
(3) Two open-air classes, held in St. James's-park.
Medical reports are available on 14 of the playground classes: three relating to classes for boys,
eight for girls, and three for infants. The children in these classes are generally delicate or poorly
nourished children, but in one instance the criterion was retarded mental development. The period
spent out of doors was from May to half-way through October; the favourable climatic conditions which
prevailed during the greater part of the summer rendered a retreat to the shelter of the classroom but
. seldom necessary. A survey of the reports gives the impression that, speaking broadly, good accrued
to the majority of the children. The reports run on very similar lines; an abstract of a typical one
will give a good idea of the whole:—Gordonbrock open-air class—28 girls from standard I. Out of 151
sessions, 140 were spent in the open. The average attendance was 26. All gained in weight, except
one who did not alter and one who lost. The average gain was just over one kilo. The average gain
in height was 2.9 c.m. Five showed marked improvement in colour and four in general nutrition.
In four cases of enlarged tonsils there was improvement; in one no change. One case of chronic
eye inflammation was much benefited. A general quickening of interest in the scholastic routine was
noted ; the children became brighter and more alert. No case of infectious disease was recorded during
the out-of-doors period.
What has been said of this class holds good generally for the others. Additional observations
recorded and not noted above are an amelioration of bronchitic conditions, recovery of lost heart
"tone," and diminution in the size of enlarged glands. One report emphasises the necessity for the
provision of extra nutriment, preferably in the form of milk, for those who are stimulated by being so
much in the men air.
Open-air
schools for
tuberculous
children.
At the commencement of the year 1919 the Council had in use 300 beds in voluntary institutions
and about 100 in Metropolitan Asylums Board institutions, making a total of 400 beds for the treatment
of children suffering from tuberculosis. Towards the end of the year the Metropolitan Asylums Board
opened two additional institutions, one for pulmonary and gland cases at Highwood, Brentwood, Essex,
and one for surgical cases at East Cliff, Margate, thus increasing the total number of beds for children
to 564.
On the 1st January, 1919, 197 boys and 195 girls were under treatment, and 419 boys and 414
girls were sent away during the year. The total number treated during the year 1919 was therefore
1,225. In addition, 667 children had the advantage of convalescence through the Invalid Children's
Aid Association with financial assistance from the Council. For further information as to the work
carried out under the London County Council Tuberculosis Scheme see Part I. of this report.